"An explosion at an illicit coal mine in northeast India has killed at least 18 people, according to local authorities. Police on Thursday said they had pulled 18 bodies from the blast site, located in a remote part of East Jainta Hills district. Eight others were wounded in the incident, said local official Manish Kumar. It is unclear how many workers were at the site during the explosion; others may still be trapped, said police."
"Kumar said rescuers paused operations at sundown Thursday and planned to resume Friday with support from state and federal personnel. He described the site as an illegal rat-hole mine, referring to a deep, narrow shaft where workers risk hazardous conditions to extract coal and other minerals. District police chief Vikash Kumar said dynamite likely triggered the blast, but investigations were ongoing."
"It is likely that the workers died either from burn injuries or breathing issues because of the release of noxious fumes, said Kumar in a statement carried by The Indian Express. But because there is no one who has come out in a condition to tell us exactly what happened and how many workers were there in total, we do not have an estimation of how many more may be trapped."
An explosion at an illicit coal mine in East Jainta Hills killed at least 18 people and wounded eight. Police recovered 18 bodies from a remote blast site, and the total number of workers at the site remains unclear, with some possibly still trapped. Rescuers paused operations at sundown and planned to resume with state and federal support. The mine was described as an illegal rat-hole shaft. Officials suspect dynamite triggered the blast and say deaths were likely from burns or noxious fumes. The chief minister pledged accountability and the prime minister announced 200,000 rupees compensation per family. Unregulated coal pits are common and day wages range $18–$24.
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